Phalange Party Urges Hizbullah to 'Reconsider' its Politics post-EU Blacklisting

Phalange Party on Monday called on Hizbullah to reevaluate its politics after the European Union last week blacklisted the party's military wing.

"We lament the EU's decision to blacklist a Lebanese party because of its behavior and activities in Europe,” the party expressed in a released statement after its political bureau's weekly meeting.

The statement added: “This European message must be understood by Hizbullah that should be motivated to reconsider its politics, especially that this decision does not affect the party only, but all Lebanese people.”

"We call on Hizbullah to reevaluate the path it has adopted, particularly its prolonged military involvement in Syria.”

EU foreign ministers last Monday put the military wing of the Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organizations despite Lebanon warning against such a move.

The conferees also discussed the extension of the army chief's mandate, considering that “the exceptional situation the country and the region are going through made delaying the end of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's term a must to avoid a possible vacuum.”

"We understand the situation that required the extension of the terms of Qahwaji and his aides,” they pointed out.

The extension of Qahwaji's term which ends this September when he turns 60 – the maximum age for the post of the army commander – had created a disputed among the political foes.

Political leaders that support the extension of Qahwaji's mandate argue that the security situation in the country can't endure any vacancy in military posts.

Meanwhile, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun vowed on Friday to challenge before the Constitutional Council the extension of Qahwaji's term, saying that it as “illegal and harms army ranks.”

The politburo praised President Michel Suleiman's efforts that aim at reviving the national dialogue session and resuming the talks.

It noted, however: "Suleiman's initiative does not replace the premier-designate Tammam Salam's efforts to form a cabinet, but must support them instead.”